Boston, MA --- Suffolk senior Jennifer Ruys (Wallingford, CT) poured in a game-best 25 points with eight boards as she helped pace the Rams to a 56-47 triumph over Worcester State in non-conference women's basketball action this evening at the Regan Gymnasium.
With the win Suffolk improves to 10-6 while the Lancers drop to 7-12 with the setback.
Junior Victoria Brillaud (N. Andover, MA) corralled a contest-high 12 boards for the hosts as freshman Kelsey Shiebel (Windham, NH) added eight points with a 5-for-6 line from the charity stripe.
Ruys, who also finished with a trio of blocks, connected on nine field goals and finished perfect at the free throw line (7-for-7).
Sophomore Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) highlighted three double-digit scorers for Worcester State with a team-best 14 points and she added six rebounds.
Senior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) posted a near double-double with 12 points and seven caroms and junior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) chipped in with 11 points and a trio of trifectas.
There were a pair of ties and one lead change at the beginning of the second half, but the Rams utilized an 11-1 run to take over a 42-35 margin at the midway point. Suffolk went 10-for-10 at the line with six points coming from Ruys who finished off the skein converting a jumper.
WSU trimmed the deficit in a 6-0 run with four points by Jennings to trail 42-41 with 8:35 on the clock, but the hosts slowly built up a 53-43 edge with 2:45 left in regulation.
The Lancers made one final push with two free throws by McPherson and junior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) jumper at the top of the paint after she stripped the ball with a steal, for the six point game with 1:17 remaining (53-47). However, the Rams went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe to seal up the victory at home.
It was a close game early on as Suffolk grabbed the seven point margin with 8:57 on the clock to keep it a two-possession game (20-13) and went up by as many as 10 with 2:41 remaining in the first half (30-20).
But Jennings and Burns connected on back-to-back jumpers for the 30-24 score at the intermission.
Suffolk finished with the 45-31 edge in rebounds, doubled up the Lancers in offensive boards (18-9) and led in points off turnovers (18-8).
After shooting 42 percent from the field in the opening frame, the Rams only hit four field goals the rest of the contest (4-for-19 – 21 percent), but sank 16 points at the stripe. WSU connected for 31 percent of their shots for the game (16-for-52) and went 12-for-16 from the free throw line (12-for-16).
Worcester State takes a break until Tuesday when they travel to MCLA for a 5:30 matchup on the road to start the second part of their MASCAC slate. Suffolk hosts Emmanuel on Saturday in a 1 PM contest.